News

Lost in the Noise

Although the F-35 has the capability to jam
enemy radars, the commander of Air Combat Command does not want the fifth
generation fighter doing broad electronic jamming during a strike into
contested air space. With its low radar signature, the stealthy F-35 could use
“small and focused” jamming as needed to clear its way through enemy air
defenses, said ACC boss Gen. Mike Hostage during a July 29 AFA-sponsored, Air
Force breakfast in Arlington, Va. The F-35’s active electronically scanned
array radar can focus narrow beams of energy at a specific area. But Hostage
added, “I’m happy there still are fourth generation platforms out there that
would bring high-powered jamming” that would “raise the noise level so I don’t
have to. I just don’t want that too close to me,” Hostage said. With the synergistic effect of the active jamming by
allies, the F-35 “will disappear in the noise,” he said.